# NTSB SEA83FU007: Airmass Sunburst, Tacoma, WA, July 5, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: July 4, 1983, 20:10 local (Jul 5, 1983, 03:10 UTC)
- Place: Tacoma, WA
- Location: 47.2529° N, 122.4443° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Tacoma, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2529&lon=-122.4443&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39641
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA83FU007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39641/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA83FU007

## Analysis

THE ULTRALIGHT HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN TO TACOMA WITH 2 PHANTOM ULTRALIGHTS IN PREPARATION FOR THE AIRSHOW. DURING DESCENT THE 3 ACFT HAD REACHED SPEEDS OF 75-80 MPH. AFTER LANDING, ONE OF PHANTOM PLTS ASKED THE SUNBURST PLT IF HE KNEW HOW FAST HE WAS GOING AND HE ANSWERED '...NO,NOT REALLY...' THE SUNBURST WAS EQUIPPED WITH A GRADUATED PLASTIC TUBE WITH A MOVABLE FLOAT TO INDICATE AIRSPEED. THE TOP MARK IS '55.' DURING THE AIRSHOW WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT STARTING A DESCENDING LEFT TURN, THEN SUDDENLY 'JERKED' TO THE RIGHT, PITCHING UP ABOUT 10 DEG. THE RIGHT WING WENT BACKWARDS, THENBOTH WINGS ROTATED UPWARDS. THE LEFT WING FRONT SPAR WAS FOUND PULLED OUTWARD FROM THE BOLT & ALUMINUM SPACER. THE RIGHTWING REAR SPAR WAS SEPARATED FROM THE BOLT & BRACKET. THE RIGHT WING FLYING CABLES SEPARATED AT THE RIGHT REAR CARRY THROUGH ATTACHMENT POINT. THE PLTS BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 0.05%.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, maneuvering
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - wing,bracing wire - overload (contributing factor)
  - wing,bracing wire - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - wing,spar - overload (contributing factor)
  - wing,spar - failure,total (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AIRMASS SUNBURST
- Category: Ultralight, amateur-built
- Airframe hours: 60
- Engines: CUYUNA 430 CC 30 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 103
- Operator: Jeffery Castanga
- Registered owner: Slade Holmes

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown; toxicology performed; flight hours: 200 total, 20 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -0 °F

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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